UK: Subcontracted EY cleaners, incl. migrant workers, protest lay-offs & excessive production targets; striking workers allegedly subjected to harassment; incl. cos. comments
Ink Drop, Shutterstock (licensed)
In June, British facilities management firm Mitie announced a wave of job cuts among cleaning workers who clean the London offices of major consultancy firm EY (formerly known as Ernst & Young). The reason for the changes was reportedly to become "more efficient for the client," referring to EY.
The cuts would allegedly affect a third of the cleaning staff—about 20 employees—including migrant workers. These workers are said to be overworked and earn poverty wages, with hourly wages of just GBP13.85.
It is always the cleaning subcontractors that they hit hard. They don’t make cuts in the same way to other areas. The company makes billions while it targets those at the bottom who make them money.Gaston, cleaner worker for EY
Workers are worried that with the announced job cuts, the remaining staff will face worse conditions in a job that already requires physical duress. One of the workers said that even though she will not be laid off, she is concerned about her workload and decided to join the strike to support her colleagues' labour rights.
Allegedly, Mitie recently introduced changes to the workers' shifts, disrupting childcare arrangements and making it difficult for some workers to have a second or third job.
The cleaners are already paid poverty wages. Now the cleaners who remain will have to do much more work. And these outsourcing companies make millions from migrant workers.Henry Chango Lopez, General Secretary of the IWGB union
Workers are being represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which has called for a strike outside EY's offices in London.
Reports allege that management has been intimidating workers for joining the strike, asking them whether they will participate, using tactics such as offering more money to work overtime, and sending letters to intimidate them with the loss of wages and pension contributions.
Bosses have been harassing workers about whether they are going to strike or not. It is unacceptable.Henry Chango Lopez, General Secretary of the IWGB union
Allegedly, in an email exchange between Mitie and the union's legal team, the company provided three entirely different explanations for the proposed changes.
Contacted by Business Insider, a spokesperson for Mitie said that it is consulting with the workers and their union representative about the proposed changes. The spokesperson added that they are supporting workers during this difficult time and exploring opportunities for redeployment as part of the consultation process.
EY was also contacted by Business Insider for comment and confirmed that it subcontracts cleaning and security services in the UK through Mitie and that the consultation process is ongoing.